The Lord's Grace

We just got back from the Ocean City Bible Conference. It was such a wonderful time of teaching in God's Word! I heard a message about the Lord's grace from Anna Moore. She is the wife of pastor Ed Moore from North Shore Baptist Church in Bayside, NY. She is truly a woman who loves the Lord and loves His Word. I am thankful that she shared this message to the ladies at the conference this year. This was so wonderful and an such an encouragement! I hope it will encourage you as much as it did me. :)

"Grace Anatomy"
Anna Moore

I. S_______________ of Grace (Sorry, I missed the first point. I'm going to listen to the message again and will fill this in)

Old Testament:
 II Samuel 9; I Samuel 20: 14-16; II Samuel 4:4

New Testament:
Luke 15:11-32

II. Saving Grace vs. Common Grace
Ephesians 2:8 & 9; Titus 2:11-14; II Timothy 1:9; Proverbs 26:10; 29:13; Matthew 5:45; Psalm 145:9, 15 &16

• Never get familiar with grace. We should always be astonished by it.
• II Timothy 1:9 -- Grace = Action
• Titus 2 -- Grace has appeared...that brings -> salvation. The result of grace is salvation. Never given to us by our merit or performance. It is based on the good pleasure of the Lord's will.

III. Source of Grace
Psalm 84:11; James 4:6; I Peter 2:3

• Psalm 84 -- God gives the grace and the blessings AND is the source of ALL grace.
• Nothing about our culture is about grace. Everything is performance based and we are conditioned to that.
• Moralism and legalism - conditioned to us. We are doing NOTHING to deserve God's grace.
• God gives favor freely to those HE chooses. We need to fight our mentality. We are in desperate need of His grace!

IV. Sanctifying Grace
Galatians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 1:6

• Positional Grace - at the point of justification.
  
• Progressive Grace - living it out and growing.

    A. Growing in Grace (II Peter 3:18; Colossians 3:12-14)

1. Prayer: God rejoices in doing us good. We can boldly ask (Hebrews 4:16). We can find grace and mercy in that time of need!
2. The Word: The Bible is more than just objective truth, It is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart. You must know the Word of God! 
3. Submission to His providential working in our lives: We must submit and trust in His sovereignty in our lives - and rest in it!
   
4. Ministry of Other Believers: We need to be the receiver and giver. You need accountability. You must help people see sin in their lives and for them to see sin in your life. We are being transformed. We must depend on the Lord's sanctifying grace.

    B. Discipline of Grace (Titus 2:11&12)

• Titus 2 Discipline of Grace. Deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. We should live: soberly, righteously and godly lives. Seeking righteousness.

    C. Cheap Grace (Romans 6:1)

• Grace is an expensive thing! Don't cheapen it. 
• You cheapen grace when you think about God being pleased with you based on your works.
• Romans 11:6 -- It is either none of grace or all of grace. It is NOT all works -- must be all grace. You are not going to improve on grace!

    D. Evidences of Grace (Acts 11:23; I Corinthians 16:17&18; Romans 16)

• To be an encourager, not a nit-picker.
  
• 1 Corinthians 16:17,18 -- Acknowledge - don't keep quiet when you see grace in other's lives. Graciously thank others. Point to the glory of God!
  

V. Sufficiency and Abundance of Grace
II Corinthians 12:7-9; II Corinthians 3:4-6; II Corinthians 9:8; Romans 5:17-20

"So (God) supplies perfectly measured grace to meet the needs of the godly. For daily needs there is daily grace; for sudden needs, sudden grace; for overwhelming need, overwhelming grace. God's grace is given wonderfully, but not wastefully; freely but not foolishly; bountifully but not blindly."
- John Blanchard

• In ourselves, we are weak. Opening ourselves up for the grace of God. Trust the Lord. His grace is sufficient! -- for our sins, trials, etc.
• II Corinthians 12:9 'But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.'
• An abundance of grace in every good work.
• He gives you just what you need!
  

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow'r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

-Annie Johnson Flint

• God's grace never runs dry!
  

VI. Surprising Aspect of Grace
Luke 15:17-20 - Parable of the Prodigal Son

    A. Negative - Luke 15:25-32 - Older Brother

• Romans 11:6 -- ALL GRACE!
• The older brother has self-righteousness and a work mentality. He is thoroughly surprised and disgusted by the Father's actions. He won't eat with them in the celebration of the brother's return.
  
• Still had sin, but thought himself to be better than his brother. Don't be like the other brother and think yourself better than anyone. 
  

   B. Positive - 15:17

• Surprising aspect of God's grace! Luke 15:17
• The father had compassion on his son and RAN and fell on his neck and kissed him. This behavior would be shocking after the behavior of the son.
  
• Psalm 50 -- The Lord is running to you with arms open wide!
  

**Are you Amazed or Unfazed?**